Best vanity lighting?

Gina_WOctober 26, 2012

So, what makes enough light for a small master bathroom? I will have a 78" double vanity and I haven't decided whether to have two light fixtures above each sink above a long mirror the width of the vanity. Or have two mirrors with both overhead fixtures as well as three sconce lights on the sides and in between the mirrors. Or just the sconces?

(I am planning for two small recessed cans in the shower and something above the bath tub as well.)

Do side-sconces help and is the light adequate and flattering?

(It's always these smaller items like light fixtures and faucets and towel rods that drive me up a wall - tiles and cabs and other big decisions are much easier! But I know the details count a lot in the overall scheme.)

The ceiling is exposed beams, so I can't do recessed cans. I will have a drop ceiling above the shower so I can put two 4-inch cans and a fan in there. To put a light over the toilet it would have to be a wall fixture. But DH and I aren't pot readers, LOL!

I'm only a homeowner but ...
it depends some on what you do. We have a 60 inch vanity and just got a frosted white warm low energy fluorescent ceiling light, which will about disappear into the ceiling. There are also two LED cans by the toilet/shower end, which are almost bright enough for the whole room. Our white tile will reflect the light around the room, and I'm past the makeup stage anyway. We may add sconces when the budget recovers, but for us, this was a good place to skimp.